FC Barcelona‘s nursing is starting to clear up and Jonatan Giráldez will be able to count on practically the entire squad. One of the most eagerly awaited returns has been that of Fridolina Rolfö, who is back after injuring her knee last summer. The Swede had meniscus surgery on her right knee in September after the World Cup and has returned to the squad after 278 days without playing.
Rolfö has chosen the best possible time and the best possible stage to return. A San Mamés with more than 23,490 fans in the stands to witness Athletic Club’s Queen’s Cup semi-final against FC Barcelona. A comfortable victory for the ‘blaugranas’ (0-3) that put the tie on track to reach another final.
The best news of the match wasn’t the victory, but the return of one of the best players in the world. Fridolina Rolfö returned to the squad after 278 days without playing, as her last match was with Sweden in the World Cup. The Swedish player strained her knee with her national team and has been sidelined for almost seven months.
Fridolina Rolfö came on in the 77th minute in place of Ona Batlle. The player came onto the pitch excited and left a very good feeling. The Swede will have to gradually add minutes to recover her sensations, but she is sure to be a key player for her coach in the coming days.
The loss seemed to be a very sensitive one for the ‘blaugranas’, but Jona solved it perfectly. It is true that Rolfö is the only natural left back in the team, as Nuria Rábano was transferred to Wolfsburg this summer. The coach placed several players on that flank, but the one who has performed the best has been Ona Batlle. The Catalan full-back has been one of the best players of the season and a wildcard in the team’s schemes.
With the defence out of sorts for most of the season, Jonatan Giráldez has had to juggle and reinvent himself. There was a point in the season when he hadn’t central defenders and had to reconvert Ingrid Engen. The Norwegian has performed well and has established herself in that area of the pitch. Even so, the central defence is the most affected with Jana Fernández and Mapi León out.
Fridolina Rolfö is one of the big names in the FC Barcelona squad. Her return is a real joy for the dressing room, as she is one of the players most loved by the squad and the fans. She is a permanent fixture on the left flank and, if she returns at a good level, it will be very difficult to leave her on the bench. It isn’t coincidence that this year she came fourth in the Ballon d’Or ranking.
A real leader on and off the pitch. Her physical strength makes it very difficult to get away from her and taking the ball away from her when she is driving is more of the same. She is also a player with great technique, finishing and many resources. Her return will help the coach to rest players who accumulate a lot of minutes and strengthen the team in the decisive stretch of the season.
San Mamés has been witness to the victory of a Barça side that seems invincible and continues to add to its tally. Alexia Putellas is another player who has returned to the squad after three months, but hasn’t had minutes. This stadium could bring some more joy to the blaugranas in the coming months. Let’s remember that the Champions League final will be played there on 25 May.
Translated by Marcos Rodríguez.
Main image: @FCBFemeni.
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